Against the tide- The Guardian article

This week, The Guardian published a powerful article shining a rare and much-needed light on the lives of young people growing up in Blackpool. You can read it here: Blackpool: England’s Most Deprived Coastal Town is Giving Young People Hope.

We’re proud that the work of House of Wingz was featured. Alongside other organisations, we are determined to create opportunities and hope for young people in a town that has, for too long, been written off.

We know well that many children and young people in Blackpool are facing complex challenges. We see it every day. Poverty, isolation, trauma, poor mental health, and a deep sense of hopelessness are woven into the reality of many young lives here. We also know that what we’re doing is only one small part of the solution, and that so much more is needed to turn the tide for this generation.

But this article felt different. For once, Blackpool wasn’t just being portrayed through the lens of what’s broken. It told the story of young people who are determined, creative, and full of potential. It highlighted the hard work of grassroots organisations like ours who refuse to give up on them. And we feel relived, and that this kind of reporting is important too!

For us at House of Wingz, the impact of our work is not only about offering a safe space or creative outlet, It’s about helping young people connect with arts and culture in ways that can transform how they see themselves, and how they imagine their futures. Many young people who have grown up through House of Wingz have gone on to build careers in the creative industries. That’s part of the legacy we’re incredibly proud of and it’s something we want to grow.

We know that arts and culture are not just about escapism. They are tools for empowerment, self-expression, confidence, and connection. They open doors, especially for young people who struggle with traditional education, who are neurodivergent, or who have never had access to the arts. And yet, access to these opportunities remains painfully limited in towns like ours.

Most young people in Blackpool are not short of talent or ideas, they are short of hope! If we can secure more investment, more resources, and more belief in the power of youth voice where young people are not only heard but valued, considered, and empowered to shape their futures, we can change that, and we feel that this article shows that engaging in art and culture, and belonging to a community as a young person, make a big difference to the way young people experience their challenges.

The Guardian article was actually born from a wider project, where young people in our community are being followed by a photographer who is documenting their lives and exploring the challenges of growing up in coastal towns. The article was an unexpected and welcome result of this project and we’re grateful that their stories are being shared with a wider audience.

We hope that this small moment of positive press is a sign of more to come. And we hope it inspires others to see what we see every day: that Blackpool’s young people deserve more

and with the right support, they can achieve it.